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Since the death of a loved one naturally evokes emotional, physical and spiritual pain, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice (GBHH&H) sponsors support groups throughout the year.

The next series of eight Monday evening grief sessions begins June 5 and runs through July 24. Each 90-minute meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays in the St. Rose Health Center first-floor conference room.

“We offer support groups for bereaved family members and friends who have suffered a loss,” GBHH&H Chaplain Larry Schumacher said. “This is in addition to individual follow-up care for those whose loved ones were enrolled in hospice.

“Support groups provide a safe place where people can embrace their pain, work through the grieving process and attempt to move forward,” Schumacher added.

While the chaplain and Social Worker Cathy Soeken will facilitate the group, Schumacher noted, “the effectiveness of a support group really comes from other group members who also are on the grief journey. If you feel you need support during this difficult time, or can contribute to someone else attempting to heal, you are invited.

“We hope we can work with you to provide assistance as you progress on the difficult journey of healing from your loss,” the chaplain added.

Anyone interested in attending the sessions or who wants more information is encouraged to contact GBHH&H by calling 620-792-8171.

GBHH&H, which has served central Kansas since 1979, is part of the St. Rose family. Its service area is Barton, Pawnee, Rush and parts of Stafford counties.

“The number of patients continues to grow and we want to offer more physical therapy equipment, as well as more space for the sake of patient comfort,” Jacobs said. “The extra square footage allows us to care for more people and their treatment needs.”

Melanie Schroeter and Holly Milligan, who earned their doctorates in physical therapy, see patients on the west end of St. Rose’s second floor. A doctor’s referral is not necessary.

“Melanie and Holly go above and beyond to advocate for their patients with compassion and professionalism,” Jacobs said. “The collaboration with Hays Medical Center affords us the added benefit of utilizing trained professional staff from its outpatient rehab department when needed.

Theresa Roe, director of Rehabilitation Services at HaysMed, couldn’t agree more and also praised the current staff.

“Melanie and Holly take the time to get to know their patients,” Roe said. “They focus on treatment that will allow patients to get back to normal life after an injury or illness. To say they are extremely patient-centered is an understatement.”

The new equipment in the expanded department includes a Biodex Gait Training System, with the Gait Trainer 2 treadmill. These allow biofeedback and support for body weight during the training.

“This increases security and confidence during rehab of orthopedic, neurological and vestibular conditions in all age groups,” Roe said. “Our new space also allows for more strength-training equipment to enhance the sports-medicine component in our physical-therapy clinic.”

Jacobs noted that Darlene Beaumont, St. Rose physical therapist, provides treatment to Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice patients, as well as outpatient physical-therapy clients. GBHH&H is part of the St. Rose family.

While many people understand that osteoporosis causes bones to weaken, they may not realize the possible repercussions.

For example, 24 percent of hip-fracture patients age 50 and older die in the year following the break. This is one of several statistics that Jeanne Habash, St. Rose Health Center physician assistant, wants to share during May, which is National Osteoporosis Month.

“Hip fractures in older people can cause a number of complications,” Habash said. “Bed rest after surgery can lead to a higher risk for pneumonia and loss of muscle mass that causes generalized weakness.

“This then results in your inability to care for yourself,” she continued. “Therefore, the risk increases for further injuries from falling.”

Some of the main risk factors for developing osteoporosis include cigarette smoking; low body weight; long-term use of corticosteroid medications; rheumatoid arthritis; and excessive alcohol consumption.

“Diabetes and early menopause also are strongly associated with osteoporosis,” Habash noted. “Men who have risk factors should be just as concerned about developing the disease as women.”

In addition to decreasing the number of risks, it also is important to exercise and/or walk frequently.

“This helps you maintain strong muscles and maybe prevent falls,” Habash explained. “You can also consume food high in calcium such as milk, yogurt, and green, leafy vegetables.

“In addition,” she elaborated, “foods high in Vitamin D such as fish from the sea are helpful. People also should consult their health-care providers about taking calcium and Vitamin D supplements.”

Habash strongly encourages people with concerns about osteoporosis to talk to their health-care provider, who may suggest a bone-density test.

“This test is quick, painless and non-invasive,” the physician assistant said. “It provides a precise measure of bone density with minimal exposure to radiation. This exam is especially important if risk factors are involved.”

Possible treatment options for osteoporosis include dietary supplements; oral medications that slow the breakdown of bone; and estrogen medications for women.

“Some newer drugs are injected twice a year,” Habash said. “But one of the drawbacks is the high cost.”

Statistics from the National Osteoporosis Foundation include:

o One in two women and up to one in four men over 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.

o A woman’s risk of fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

o A man is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer.

o Of the nearly 300,000 hip-fracture patients every year, one fourth end up in long-term-care facilities and half never regain previous function.

A St. Rose Health Center physical therapist is one of only a handful of professionals in Kansas and neighboring states that is trained in a specialized technique called Fascial Counterstrain.

Holly Milligan has successfully completed training in the specialty and is offering the service to St. Rose patients.

While most people understand the basics of physical therapy, Fascial Counterstrain is probably a new term to many, Milligan said.

“It involves the shortening of fascia, while most other fascial techniques attempt to stretch through the fascia,” she explained. “The shortening allows for a much faster and typically pain-free release. Another big difference is Fascial Counterstrain addresses the fascia around arteries, veins, nerves and organs, as well as muscles. When the fascia is released, it allows the body to return to its natural state of function.

“There is a point when the body’s pathology cannot be reversed,” Milligan added. “But Fascial Counterstrain can help ease tension throughout the body, and therefore ease the symptoms and improve function.”

The technique is slight and non-traumatic; there are no stretches or exercises directly involved. But typically Fascial Counterstrain is paired with gentle exercise, promoting appropriate body movements.

“We are seeing a lot of people with chronic pain,” Milligan noted. “In some cases, patients have pain that has not responded to other treatment. Fascial Counterstrain has been successful in alleviating pain in many such cases.”

In addition, the technique can help alleviate symptoms of urinary incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and headaches. Those suffering the effects of a stroke also may find relief in relaxation of tension.

Milligan acknowledged that even she has been pleasantly surprised at how the technique can alleviate lower back pain by treating the gut area.

“I consider the body as a whole because we know, for example, that intestinal inflammation may be a factor in back pain or even knee pain,” she said.

The number of visits varies per patient, but it is usually a shorter treatment process if people are treated soon after the onset of pain. A doctor’s prescription is not needed for physical therapy.

Milligan received her training through the Jones Institute and Counterstrain Academy. She will participate in continuing education.

Milligan, who is originally from Larned and now lives in Great Bend, earned her undergraduate degree in kinesiology at Kansas State University in 2004. She then received her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2007.

Mike Penn, R.N., said it was “obvious from day one” that Larry Lancaster didn’t want to be there.

Lancaster, Great Bend, had been referred to Cardiac Rehabilitation at St. Rose Health Center following a heart-valve replacement and single-bypass surgery.

“Larry thought it would be a grand waste of time,” recalled Penn, Cardiac Rehab nurse. “After several visits, however, he started to warm up to it. But the most surprising thing is what Larry is doing today.

“He followed our advice and is now exercising regularly; he is in the Top 5 for attendance at a local gym. It is not uncommon for people to be resistant but Larry is testament to what can be accomplished.”

Penn noted it isn’t uncommon to resist rehab but many patients discover they want to follow through. For some, it even becomes a social event.

Both men shared this story to encourage other heart patients.

Lancaster, 69, acknowledged he wasn’t the most cooperative patient in the beginning.

“In fact,” he laughed, “they probably never had a patient so resistant. I was not looking forward to rehab at all.

“As time went by, I actually started looking forward to it. I was feeling better and the Cardiac Rehab staff is good – they are so good. They can sense when you are struggling physically or emotionally, and help you through it. They are very attentive.”

Lancaster’s heart procedures were performed on March 8, 2016. He was referred to rehab and then learned Penn is a nurse at St. Rose’s Cardiac Rehab.

“I had known Mike for years, and trusted and respected him,” Lancaster said. “It was a no brainer at that point. But that didn’t mean I had to look forward to rehab.”

He reported for duty Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for 12 weeks. His program entailed 15 minutes on each machine – the treadmill, stationary bike and recumbent stepper. Another 15 minutes was devoted to stretching.

“When that was over, I started going to the gym,” Lancaster said. “I started with three days a week and now I go five days a week. It became a habit, just part of the routine.”

The Great Bend man, who works part-time calling on oilfield-chemical customers, also noted that 11 years ago, he had a triple bypass.

“I ignored the obvious back then; you know the male mentality, don’t you? Then around Christmas 2015, I had bronchitis. I thought I was over it but I wasn’t.

“Eleven years ago and then again last year, I knew something was not right,” Lancaster said. “I had no energy or stamina. Now I have both.”

Donita Wolf, manager of Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice, second from the left, accepts a $730 check from Rae Ann Brack, president of the Bikers of Central Kansas. Others in the photo are GBHH&H staff and BOCK members. The money was raised during BOCK’s recent Chili Challenge to benefit hospice patients.

St. Rose Health Center has scheduled its next “Helping Hands for Healthy Hearts” meetings for those who have been diagnosed with heart failure.

“We understand heart patients have many questions after their cardiac event,” said Kristin Steele, R.N., who cares for patients in St. Rose’s Cardiac Rehab Department. “They receive tons of new information when released from the hospital, and inevitably, questions arise. We want to provide the answers.”

The four free sessions are set for 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. April 4, 14, 18 and 25. Reservations are required; the number to call is 785-656-4526.

Steele and Melanie Krier, another St. Rose R.N., will lead the discussions.

“When patients have the proper resources, they can take control and manage their illness at home,” Steele commented. “We want to share information that may help them prevent heart-related problems and hospitalizations.”

Participants in the four sessions last November were pleased with the new service and are welcome to attend the April gatherings too, Steele noted.

“We welcome those who attended in the past, as well as newcomers who want to learn more about their condition,” Steele said. “Since caregivers play a vital role in patients’ lives, they also are encouraged to join us.”

Heart failure is diagnosed when the heart is not pumping well enough to keep up with the body’s demands. Steele said medical science has made many strides in the treatment of the disease.

Proper follow-up care is crucial to recovery, she noted. “For example, 70 percent of re-admissions to a hospital are preventable. This is because it is easy to overlook specific information about medications, blood-pressure control and lifestyle changes.

“When people are overwhelmed with information, they don’t immediately know the right questions to ask,” she explained. “But when they are feeling a little better and have the time to review recovery guidelines, they realize they could use a little advice.”

The sessions’ give-and-take setting offers participants the opportunity to learn from the nurses, as well as one another, Steele added.

“Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and share information,” Steele said. “These conversations can be a valuable resource to add to their doctors’ written instructions.

“With proper medications, exercise and a heart-healthy diet, people are living longer with a good quality of life. Patients feel empowered when they realize they are in control of their recovery.”

St. Rose is a member of the Kansas Heart Stroke Collaborative, which supplied the funding for the nurses’ training as facilitators. St. Rose, Hays Medical Center and the University of Kansas Hospital are partners with other Kansas facilities in the collaborative. The goal is to improve outcomes for heart and stroke patients.

The location is changing but the goal remains the same – to raise money for Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice (GBHH&H) patients.

The upcoming Chili Challenge, sponsored annually by the Bikers of Central Kansas (BOCK), will be held at the Elks Lodge, 1120 Kansas in Great Bend, for the first time.

The 18th annual event is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. It is open to the public.

Admission is $7 to taste and judge the recipes; children under 6 eat free. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 15, with a limit of 14 entrants; there is no entry fee.

Each chef should bring a large roaster full of chili that is heated and ready to serve, if at all possible, BOCK President Rae Ann Brack said.

“We hope the community supports this annual fundraiser for GBHH&H services,” Brack said. “Hospice focuses on caring, not curing, and is individualized for each patient.

“A patient’s family is also an important focus of hospice care,” she added. “Services are designed to give support and assistance to family members going through a difficult time. None of us knows when we might need GBHH&H and this Chili Challenge is a great way to support the non-profit agency.”

The best chili cook will win $100, and second and third places will receive plaques. The traveling trophy will honor the chef with the best presentation.

Donita Wolf, GBHH&H manager, said she and her staff, as well as the families they serve appreciate the time and effort that goes into this event every year.

“It is difficult to explain how gratifying it is to have this type of ongoing support,” Wolf said. “Hospice patients and their families face extremely difficult situations and are comforted by community support.”

Those who want more information about the Chili Challenge or to register are encouraged to contact Rae Ann Brack, 620-617-3113, or any other BOCK member.

GBHH&H, a non-profit agency, is part of the St. Rose Health Center family. It has served central Kansans since 1979. Its service area includes Barton, Pawnee, Rush and parts of Stafford counties.

Since the death of a loved one naturally evokes emotional, physical and spiritual pain, Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice (GBHH&H) sponsors support groups throughout the year.

The next series of eight Monday evening grief sessions begins Feb. 6 and runs through March 27. Each 90-minute meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays in the St. Rose Health Center first-floor conference room.

“We offer support groups for bereaved family members and friends who have suffered a loss,” GBHH&H Chaplain Larry Schumacher said. “This is in addition to individual follow-up care for those whose loved ones were enrolled in hospice.

“Support groups provide a safe place where people can embrace their pain, work through the grieving process and attempt to move forward,” Schumacher added.

While the chaplain and Social Worker Cathy Soeken will facilitate the group, Schumacher noted, “the effectiveness of a support group really comes from other group members who also are on the grief journey. If you feel you need support during this difficult time, or can contribute to someone else attempting to heal, you are invited.

“We hope we can work with you to provide assistance as you progress on the difficult journey of healing from your loss,” the chaplain added.

Anyone interested in attending the sessions or who wants more information is encouraged to contact GBHH&H by calling 620-792-8171.

GBHH&H, which has served central Kansas since 1979, is part of the St. Rose family. Its service area is Barton, Pawnee, Rush and parts of Stafford counties.

The new advanced practice registered nurse at St. Rose Health Center is using her 13 years of varied experience to care for patients at the facility’s Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic.

Jene Bolen treats patients who have anything from sore throats to chest pains. She also sutures wounds.

“Those of us in Convenient Care are here for patients who have health concerns that don’t rise to the level of an emergency,” Bolen said. “If you cannot see your primary doctor for whatever reason and need medical help quickly, St. Rose’s Convenient Care allows quick access to quality health care.”